Barcelona is one of Europe's main commercial and cruise ports with more than 100 regular shipping services connecting the harbour with over 300 destinations across five continents. It specializes in general cargo, having handled 27.6 mln tn in 2014 which stands for 59.5% of total throughput (46.35 mln tn).

The harbour generates 32,000 jobs and accounts for 71% and 21% of Catalonia’s maritime and national maritime trade, respectively. From 2000 to 2014 the Port of Barcelona has attracted investments worth EUR 4 bln, both from the public and private sectors. Apart from the employment and wealth that is generated by the port's busiensses, the cruise industry has also a huge economic impact on the City of Barcelona attracting thousands of travellers.

The expansion of the commercial port, which was completed during the last decade, doubled the land area from 600 to 1,200 ha. Soon the Port of Barcelona will also have one of the most technologically advanced container terminals in Europe. The Chinese Hutchison Port Holdings has begun the second phase of its BEST Terminal's expansion which is expected to be finished until the first quarter of 2015. Once the construction works are completed the terminal will feature a 1,500 m quayside and an alongside depth of 16.5 m.